Veteran meets rock royalty in heroic choral performance
AN ARMY veteran from South Wales found himself mixing with royalty after being picked for the Help For Heroes choir at the Invictus Games.
Gavin Lewis, from Betws, near Bridgend, was chosen to be a member of the special choir from hundreds of service personnel across the UK.
The 47-year-old was in the Royal Regiment of Wales for 12 years, and served in Northern Ireland during the 1980s.
Now, he’s preparing to perform at the Invictus Games – with an official song written and recorded by rock legend Jon Bon Jovi.
Not only that, Gavin travelled to the famous Abbey Road studios – which are synonymous with The Beatles – to record the song.
Prince Harry, who founded the Invictus Games, also came along to the recording to give the choir his support.
For Gavin, who turned to Help for Heroes in September 2019, the charity’s support has been invaluable. When he returned from Northern Ireland, he was suffering with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
“From where I’ve come from to where I am now, I’m no longer in the dark,” he said.
“I was just sweeping everything under the carpet and not really dealing with it.”
As the only Welsh member of the choir, Gavin says he is “extremely proud” of being a part of the ensemble.
“It’s been surreal,” he said.
“I’m doing it for us all, for all of my friends I lost in battle.
“I just feel so humbled and extremely proud.
“I was involved in Help for Heroes anyway and they said they were interested in doing a ‘special project’ and so I auditioned and then found out what it was. I was a bit surprised when I found out.”
The choir will be travelling to the Invictus Games in the Netherlands in May to give a performance of the song.